Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School:

1
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical
High School

• Reviewing Admission Requirements

2
An Overview of Blackstone Valley Regional
Vocational Technical High School

• Combines vocational and technical training with
  public high school graduation requirements
• Offers 17 vocational and technical training
  programs

3
Vocational Technical Programs

• Service Cluster
• Auto Body
• Culinary Arts
• Business Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Health Services
• Dental Assisting
• Cosmetology

4
Vocational Technical Programs (continued)

• Construction Cluster
• Carpentry
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and
  Refrigeration
• Painting, Decorating and Maintenance

5
Vocational Technical Programs (continued)

• Technology Cluster
• Information Technology
• Drafting
• Electronics
• Graphic Arts
• Manufacturing Technologies

6
BVT Admits Applicants from 13 Cities/Towns

• Bellingham
• Blackstone
• Douglas
• Grafton
• Hopedale
• Mendon
• Milford

• Millbury
• Millville
• Northbridge
• Sutton
• Upton
• Uxbridge

7
Application Process

• Students 8th grade year
• November Valley Tech Presentation at students
  school
• December Tour of Valley Tech during the school
  day supervised by Douglas staff
• January Parent/Applicant Night applications
  due to DHS guidance office
• February-March Candidate interviews conducted by
  BVT guidance staff at DHS
• March Saturday placement testing at BVT
• April Application notification directly to
  students from BVT

8
Admissions Criteria Scoring

• BVT has become quite selective with admitting
  students.
• Candidates are assessed in five areas during the
  students 7th grade and 8th grade (1st 2
  quarters) year
• Scholastic Record (40)
• Attendance (5)
• Behavior (15)
• Interview (25)
• Teacher/Guidance Counselor Recommendations (15)
• Students also answer 4 written questions on the
  back of the application (questions are not scored)

9
Scholastic Record

• 40 of the students score is attributed to
  grades
• English, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Final grades from 7th X 4
• 1st and 2nd quarters of 8th grade
• Add up and divide by 6 in each area for a final
  average in each subject area
• All 4 final subject averages are then added up
  and divided by 4 to establish a cumulative
  average
• Points are awarded based on this cumulative
  average
• 90-100 40 pts
• 80-90 30/35 pts
• 70-79 20/25 pts
• 60-69 10 pts

10
Attendance

• 5 of applicants score is attributed to
  attendance
• Total days absent from school during 7th 8th
  grade, minus excused absences.
• Total unexcused absences is divided by 6 to
  establish a final average of absences per term.
• Points are awarded based on average days absent
  per term

11
Behavior

• 15 of the candidates score
• Score is derived from the number of days the
  student was suspended during 7th and 8th grade.
• Points are assigned in the following manner
• 15 points for 0 days suspended
• 10 points for 1-2 days suspended
• 5 points for 3-5 days suspended
• 0 points for 6 or more days suspended

12
Interview

• Accounts for 25 of the applicants score
• Maximum of 5 points in each of the following
  areas, for a total of 25 possible points
• Career goals
• Academic interest/skills
• Pre-vocational experience
• Vocational/technical skills
• Motivation/personal qualities

13
Teacher/Guidance Counselor Recommendations

• 8th grade teachers rate students in 8
  pre-determined categories
• Leadership
• Responsibility
• Self-motivation
• Ability to work independently
• Team player/cooperative
• Responsive to safety concerns
• Vocational aptitude/interest
• Participates in extra curricular activities

14
Teacher/Guidance Counselor Recommendations
(continued)

• BVT asks teachers/counselors to rate the student
  and determine if he/she consistently demonstrates
  each quality
• Points are assigned in the following manner
• 8 of 8 qualities 15 points
• 6 or 7 qualities 10 points
• 4 or 5 qualities 5 points
• Less than 4 0 points

15
Placement Testing

• BVT representatives have consistently indicated
  that testing is not used for admission purposes.
• Testing is reportedly used to place students in
  the appropriate subject level when/if the student
  is admitted to BVT.

16
What does all of this mean?

• 7th and 8th grade students must strive to do
  their best in the four core academic areas.
• Student behavior and attendance are important
  (know the schools policy on excused/unexcused
  absences).
• 8th grade students can benefit from interview
  preparation in the 5 previously mentioned areas.

17
Additional Questions?

• Jessica Hurley
• Guidance Department
• Douglas High School
• 508-476-4100 ext. 2118
• Guidance Department
• Blackstone Valley Tech
• 1-800-529-7758 ext. 3020